Painting stand for vehicle body panels

Abstract

A painting stand for supporting vehicle body panels during the painting operation includes a base moveable upon a plurality of rolling casters and having a vertically extending upright member which in turn supports a generally T-shaped member. The T-shaped member is pivotally joined to the upper end of the vertical upright member and includes a plurality of horizontally disposed telescoping sliders and attachment arms. The upwardly extending portion of the T-shaped member includes a moveable sleeve supporting a further attachment arm. The attachment arms engage the vehicle body panel.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. For use in supporting a vehicle body panel during painting, a painting stand comprising:
 a base having a vertical upright member defining a hollow interior passage therethrough and an upper end; 
 a pivot bar having a top end and a bottom end; 
 a pivot clamp pivotally securing said pivot bar to said upper end of said vertical upright member at a point on said pivot bar between said top end and said bottom end thereof and clamping said pivot bar at a selected angle relative to said vertical upright member; 
 a T-bar joined to said bottom end of said pivot bar having first and second opposed extending T-bar ends; 
 a pivot pin pivotally joining said pivot bar to said upper end of said vertical upright member; 
 first and second sliders slideably received upon said T-bar ends; 
 said first, second, and third hook ends cooperating to secure the vehicle body panel to said first and second sliders, and said sleeve, respectively, such that the weight of the vehicle body panel is born by said T-bar and said pivot bar 
 a sleeve slideably received upon said pivot bar having a third attachment arm extending therefrom, said third attachment arm having a third hook end constructed to engage the vehicle body panel, said first, second and third hook ends cooperating to secure the vehicle body panel to said first, second and third sliders respectively such that the weight of the vehicle body panel is born by said T-bar and said pivot bar; 
 attachment means operable upon said sleeve to fix the position of said sleeve upon and against said pivot bar; and 
 a gas spring including a spring block, a movable end, and a linkage within said hollow interior passage of said vertical upright member coupled between said pivot bar and said vertical upright member, the linkage of said gas spring coupled to said movable end of said gas spring and said pivot pin, wherein said pivot pin is disposed within said spring block, 
 wherein said gas spring establishes a predetermined angular position of said pivot bar relative to said vertical upright member and provides a compensating spring force urging said pivot bar toward said predetermined angular position when said pivot bar is pivoted, said compensating spring force acting to compensate for the weight of the vehicle body panel during pivoting. 
 
     
     
       2. The painting stand set forth in  claim 1  further including:
 a third slider interposed between said first slider and said first T-bar end; and 
 a fourth slider interposed between said second slider and said second T-bar end. 
 
     
     
       3. The painting stand set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first and second T-bar ends and said first, second, third and fourth sliders each define non-circular cross sections. 
     
     
       4. The painting stand set forth in  claim 3  wherein said cross sections are substantially rectangular. 
     
     
       5. The painting stand set forth in  claim 4  wherein said cross sections are substantially square. 
     
     
       6. The painting stand set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first and second sliders include respective first and second sockets and wherein said first and second attachment arms include respective first and second socket insert ends removably received within said sockets. 
     
     
       7. The painting stand set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first and second attachment arms each include angled offset portions and wherein said first and second hook ends are reversible.